Deeply influenced by the social inequalities around her and inspired by her father’s social work in her early age, Shad Begum would become a known figure nationally and internationally because of her determined struggle to improve the conditions of the marginalized segments, especially women, of her community in the northwest of Pakistan – a deeply religious and conservative area where Taliban publically executed men and women on non-conformity to their version of Islam.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Building Bridges across Faiths for World Peace

Inter-faith harmony, religious tolerance and mutual
understanding across faiths and nations were never so much the need of the hour
as it is today. All religions of the world are inspired by divine wisdom. All
of them strive for a high moral world built by peace, mutual respects, and the
dignity of human beings. Unfortunately, some hate mongers; biased individuals
and intolerant groups have used religions for their own narrow and selfish
interests around the globe. This has lead to stereotypes and demonization of
certain religions in the world. To create a better understanding of religious
faiths around the globe, World Alliance for Religions Peace Summit organized by
Heavenly Cultural World Peace Restoration of Light (HWPL), International
Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) jointly
from 17th to 19th September 2014 in South Korea. All the credit goes to the leadership of Mr. Man Hee
Lee, a Korean War veteran and renowned peace advocate, founded the organization
after his involvement with numerous volunteer associations, seeing the need for
a group whose central focus was to unite the people of the world behind the
goal of peace irrespective of any apparent differences among themselves.
Equally accredited is Ms. Nam Hee Kim Chairwoman of IWPG. The IWPG has been
established with a purpose to protect the youth from war and achieving the
cessation of war and world peace.

Participants from Asia, Africa, America, and Europe
included former heads of states, dignitaries and prominent achievers in their
own countries in promoting religious tolerance and peace.It was amazing to see events participated by
hundreds of thousands of people with outstanding discipline and meticulous
attention to details. All the credit goes to the organizers and volunteers who
mad this big event a huge success.

The first day was marked by reception and opening of
the event in the Jamsil Main Stadium of Seoul South Korea. Renowned religious leaders
from different religions of the world talked about religious harmony in the
context of global peace and signed a pledge to promote interfaith harmony and
mutual understanding among nations and faiths for world peace.

For me personally the most inspiring occasion was to
see women leaders from different countries, regions and nations coming together
to join hands and promote the role of women for world peace as in majority
cases the women and children are the worst affects of wars and conflicts around
the globe. These women peace builders came from regions of conflicts and wars
and had unique experiences in contributing to building peace in their own
countries and communities. It was a
great learning experience to listen to and share experiences of situations and
different conflict contexts. But this is rather sad to say that despite all the
differences in cultures and countries which are hit by wars and conflicts has
one thing in common i.e. women and children and other innocent civilians happen
to be the worst victims. Even worst, women remain excluded from all peace
negotiations between combatants in all conflict and war regions. This is also
the case in our country and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA region where no single
women has been a part of any peace committee or negotiations. Women peace builders of a world sign a pledge
to work for the cessation of all wars and bring peace, to save our children
from war and violence in future.Women
leaders also made a commitment to unite all women across the world and to
prevent the outbreaks and onset of wars.

I felt humbled and considered it a great privilege and
honor for my country and people to be appointed as member of the Advisory Board
and Expert Group of IWPG.

Participants from different countries and regions who
had no info or less understanding of the situation in our country appreciated
the efforts and sacrifices of the citizens of Pakistan and peace builders.

For the last thirteen years Pakistani people and its security
forces have paid dearly in terms of precious human lives and resources to
counter the menace of violent religious zealots. Millions of Pakhtuns have been
displaced from their homes from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. As during the Swat-Malakand displacement in
2009, now almost 1.2 million tribal men and women from FATA are displaced from
their homes living in extremely deplorable conditions. Again women and children
among these IDPs are the worst sufferers. To be a member of the Advisory Board
and Expert Group of IWPG, I want to present the soft image of Pakistan and
highlight the sacrifices of Pakistanis for peace.

Inheritors and practitioners of Buddha’s teachings, the
South Korean people exude in aura around their personalities.Their positive energies and sincere smiles
are contagious. The extra ordinary care and hospitality that the Korean volunteers
expressed towards all the guests, since arrival on the airport till departure,
reminded me that the proverbial Pakhtun hospitality has even great competitors,
at least in the East.The good
impressions about South Korea and its people will always remain a cherished
memory for my self.

Mr. Man Hee
Lee, a Korean War veteran and renowned peace advocate, founded the organization
after his involvement with numerous volunteer associations, seeing the need for
a group whose central focus was to unite the people of the world behind the
goal of peace irrespective of any apparent differences among themselves.

[1] Shad Begum is a human rights
activist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and a recipient of international
women of courage awards.

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About Me

Shad Begum is the
founder and executive director of the non-profit Association for Behaviour
& Knowledge Transformation (ABKT). Her organization was uprooted during the
Taliban take-over in Swat due to massive displacement of people in 2009-2010.
Her resilience kept ABKT alive during enormous odds. Shad Begum is Ashoka
fellow and in recognition of her untiring struggle for the economic and
political empowerment of women and girls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; she was awarded
the “International Woman Courage Award” in 2012 by the U.S. Department of
State.

Honours and Awards

Certificate of recognition on outstanding contribution to food production
& house hold food security Prime Minister of Pakistan

Best social worker award, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Directorate
of Social Welfare & Women Development Department

ASHOKA life time fellowship ASHOKA international, Washington DC

Prize for Creativity in Rural Life from
Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) Geneva

International Woman
of Courage Award 2012 from State
Department United States of America (USA)